Dial test indicator for lathes



April 7, 1959 o. E. VICE 2,880,515

DIAL TEST INDICATOR FOR LATHES Filed Oct. 15, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIG14 IN VEN TOR. O/ZA if V/Ci April 7, 1959 o. E. VICE DIAL TEST INDICATORFOR LATHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15, 1956 FIE-4 INVENTOR. 0Z4 f.V/Zf April 7, 1959 o. E. VICE DIAL TEST INDICATOR FOR LATHES 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 15, 1956 INVENTOR. ORA 5 V/CE a-n Edam:

United States Patent DIAL TEST INDICATOR FOR LATHES Ora E. Vice,Middletown, Ohio Application October 15, 1956, Serial No. 616,076

Claims. (Cl. 33-172) This invention relates generally to a dial setindicator and has for one of its objects the provision of a more easilyand readily adjusted indicator by means of certain clamps.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a faster means ofadjustment than has heretofore been provided for such indicators.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means foradjusting the indicator to any desired position by means ofself-contained adjustable joints.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a basewhich is adapted to be secured to a lathe tool post, a shaper tool postor a planer tool holder or the like.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of anindicator which is self-contained and wherein there are no additionalparts to be assembled.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an indicator whichmay be folded and stored without disassembly.

Still another object of the invention to to provide a means to hold theindicator rigid after the desired position has been located by means oflock screws.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide clamp formounting upon a stationary pivot, releasa-bly and so that it can besecured in any position, a rotatably supported pivot which may extendtransverselyv thereto.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a dial test indicator embodying thefeatures of the present invention and shown in a folded position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof but showing the indicator inthe full length position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the indicator in thefoldedposition;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the line44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the line 5-5of Fig. 2 indicating the angle swivel forming a part of the invention;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional'view taken along theline 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of a center wiggler adapted to be usedwith the first form of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the bell wiggler of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an end elevational view of the bell wiggler of ;Fig. 10looking from the right end thereof; Fig. 12 is an enlarged verticalsectional view taken Fat'ented-Apr. 7,1959

along the line 17-17 of Fig. 8 and indicating the manner in which thesnap spring is assembled onto the wiggler;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken alongthe line 18-18 of Fig. 7 and showing the same in operative position onthe indicator; and

Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line19-19 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly toFigs. 1 through 6, and 14, 10 represents a base member having a steppedupper surface and integrally formed at one end with the reducedextension 10a, substantially as illustrated. The base member 10 onopposite sides is'provided with the laterally aligned, longitudinallyextending grooves 11 to provide a means for clamping the base member toany tool holder. A keeper screw 12 is screw threaded through the basemember 10 at the end of the groove 11 remote from the extension 10a andprevents the indicator from sliding away from the clamp, as will beobvious. The base member 10 is provided with the stepped upper surfaceto provide three different heights for fitting any tool holder.

As shown in Fig. 4, the reduced extension 10a of the base member 10 isprovided with an internally threaded bore 10b into which is screwed theexternally threaded lower end 18:: of an indicator stud, indicatedgenerally at 18. The indicator stud 18 includes the reduced smoothcylindrical neck 18b which is integrally formed in the upper end of theexternally threaded portion 18a and is in turn integrally formed withthe enlarged frusto conical portion 180 having a reversedfrusto conicalsurface 18d at the lower end thereof and the undersurface of which abutsthe top of the base member 10 surrounding the bore 10b. The frustoconical enlargement 18c is in turn integrally formed with the smoothcylindrical portion 18e which is connected to the upper externallythreaded portion 18 by the reduced cylindrical neck 18g.

A friction clamp indicated generally at 17 of U-shaped vertical crosssection is provided with the frusto conical bore 17a within which isreceived the frusto conical enlargement 18c of the indicator stud 18,vertically aligned cylindrical bores 17b in the upper and lower portionsthereof which receive therethrough the smooth cylindrical portion 182 ofthe stud and an upper frusto conical bore for a purpose which willhereinafter become clear. The central portion of the clamp is alsoprovided with a smooth cylindrical bore 17d disposed at right angles tothe bore 17b.

A frusto conical split friction collar 15 is slidably positioned on thesmooth cylindrical portion 18e and is re ceived within the bore 170, aholder pin 16 being fixedly carried by the cylindrical portion 18ewithin the split portion of the collar 15 for preventing angularrotation of the collar relative to the stud. A locking nut 13 is screwedonto the externally threaded upper end of the stud 18 and is integrallyformed with a hollow, depending sleeve 13a which encloses thecylindrical portion 18a and which rests on the cylindrical upper portionof the collar 15, a coil spring 14 being housed within the sleeve 13awith the upper end thereof bearing on the undersurface of the nut 13 andthe lower end thereof bearing on the friction collar 15 whereby to urgethe frusto conical portion of the latter downwardly into the frustoconical bore17c of the friction clamp.

A swivel pin 20 is rotatably mounted within the bore 17d of the clamp 17and is provided at one end with the keeper screw 23 which limits thedisplacement of the pin 20 through the clamp, as will be obvious. Anangle swivel link 21 is fixedly mounted on the extended end of the pin20 and is integrally formed at its lower end with the hollow cylindricalportion 21a and is provided with the longitudinal split portion 21bwhich communicates with the hollow cylindrical portion of the 3 bore21a,- the b'ore'bein g tightened by means of the clamping screw 24 screwthreaded throughthe split portionlZib near the cylindrical portion 21a.

A connecting bar 25 is Jfixedly mounted at one end within the hollowcylindrical-portion 21a of the link 21 and is provided at itsother endwith asecond friction clamp 17 identical in construction with thatpreviously described, the end of the connecting bar 25 being-receivedwithin the central bore 17b thereof (Fig. 6). A second indicator stud 18is positioned within the frusto conical bore 17c and cylindrical bore17b of the fr'ction clamp and includes the usual externally threadedupper end 13a, being identical in construction with the previous studdescribed. A-second nut 13 is screwed onto the externally threaded.lowerend 18 of the stud and is integrally formed with the upwardlyextending hollow cylindrical sleeve 13a which supports the cylindricallower end of the frusto conical friction -c ollar .15 having a splitportion within which is positioned theretaining pin 16, a coilspring 14being hous ed within the sleeve 13a and hearing at its upper .end on theundersurfaee of the friction collarand at its lower end on the uppersurface of the nut.

,A dial indicator indicated generally at 26 is provided with aninternally threaded central bore and is screwed downwardly onto theexternally threaded upper end 18a, the dial indicator 20 including theindicator ball 27, in a manner Well known to those skilled in the art.

in operation, the ball 27 and indicator 26 may be rotated from theinoperative position of Fig. 1 to the operative position of Fig. 2 abouta vertical axis by loosening and then tightening the screw 13. Theindicator and ball may further be adjusted by loosening and tighteningthe second nut 13 on theouter end of the bar about a horizontal axis.Further adjustment maybe effected about the pivot 20. This adjustmentisfaster than has heretofore been provided and is more easily andreadily effected. This adjustment is effected to any desired position bymeans of the self-contained adjustable joints shown. lathe tool post, ashaper tool post or a planer tool holder or the like, and it will benoted that the indicator is self-contained and no additional parts needbe added. It will also be apparent that there has been provided anindicator which can be folded and stored without disassemblyand whereinmeans are provided for holding the indicator rigid after the desiredposition is located.

Referring now particularly to-l 'igs. 7 through 13, there areshownacenter wiggler and bell wiggler adapted to be used with the presentnvention. The center wiggler indicated generally at 51 includes thefrusto conical portion 51a integrally formed at its smaller end with thecylindrical portion 51b which terminates in the point or conical tipale, the largerend of the wiggler being integrally formed with thecylindrical enlargement 51d having an annular groove ate, the oppositeends of the cylindrical portion aid being beveied. The larger end or thewiggler is provided with the t'rusto conical bore which communicates atits inner end with the smooth cylindrical bore 61 which in turnterminates in the conical end portion 62, the cylindrical bore 61 incombination with the annular, groove 5 12 defining the hollowcylindrical sleeve 63, the opposite sides of whichare cutaway ,as at 64(Fig. 12) for,a purposewhich will hereinafter ecome clear, thusconnecting thegroove 51e with cylindrical bore 61.

As shown in Fig. 13, the ball 27 of the indicator 26 which is connectedto the rod 27a by the reduced neck 27b is received withinthe conicalportion 62 of the bore 61 whereupon the,U -shaped snapspring65 isinserted. j downwardly into the groove 5 1e onto the open-opposite sidesof the sleeve 61, the lower ends of1the snap spring 65 being bentinwardly at 61 withthe side. portionengaging the reduced neck 27bbetween the rod 27a and the ball 27 to-perrnit anniversalmovement of thewiggler-and The base, being stepped, can be secured to a an enlargedconical tip 67.

d ready assembly with the indicator. This assembly is also shown in Fig.2.

In operation, when the center of the work has been indicated by a centerpunch mark and the work has been mounted in the machine for turning, thewiggler 51 is then placed in position on the indicator ball 27 asdescribed and as shown in Figs. 2 and 13. The point 510 of the wiggleris placed into the center punch mark on the work. If the work is notmounted accurately in the chuck, the wiggler 51 will turn in a circleand -,Will, it the ball joint is anywhere off the axis of rotation movethe indicator hand 26a (Fig. 1) showing how much the'work is off center.The piece of work is then relocated and is again tried for centerlocation.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 9, 10 and 11, 52 indicates generallya bell wiggler identical in construction with the center wiggler 51except for the provision at the end of the reduced cylindrical portion51b of In ethe st h b wiggler 52 is identical with the center wiggler51, and

like reference numerals identify like parts throughout the severalviews.

'It should now be apparent that there has been provided a deviceformounting upon a stationary pivot, releasably and so that it can besecured in any position, a rotatably supported pivot which may extendtransversely thereto.

While various changes maybe madein the detailconstruction, it shall beunderstood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

L A dial test indicator for lathes comprising a base member, means formounting said base member on a tool holder or the like, a first studfixedly mounted at one end of said base member in a substantiallyvertical position, first friction clamp means mounted on .said firststud, a pivot pin carried by said friction clamp means and atsubstantially right angles to said stud, a pivot link connected to oneend of said pivot pin, a substantially horizontal connecting bar havingone end thereof connected to said pivot link and adapted tobe rotatedagainst said base member parallel thereto upon release of said firstfriction clamp means and to be retained there at by tightening saidfirst friction clamp means, a dial test indicator, a substantiallyvertical second stud fixedly mounting said dial test indicator at theupper end thereof, second friction clamp means on-said stud below saidindicator, the other end of said connecting bar being mounted in saidsecond friction clamp means, said indicator having a dial and indicatorfinger on its upper end and including a feeler rod in operativeengagement therewith controlling the position of said indicator finger,said means for mounting said base member in a tool holder or the likecomprising said base member being stepped whereby to accommodate toolholders of varying siZe, said base member on opposite sides beingprovided with longitudinally extending grooves aligned laterally, saidgrooves extending inwardly from the end of said base member remote fromsaid stud, and a safety screw threaded through said base member withinsaid grooves at their ends remote from saidstud.

.2. A dial test indicator for lathes comprising a base member, means formounting said base member on -a tool holder or the like, a first studfixedly mounted at one end of said base member in a substantially.vertical position, first friction clamp means mounted on said firststud, a pivot pin carried by said friction clamp means and atsubstantially right angles to said stud, apivot link connected to oneend of said pivot pin, a substana of said first friction clamp means andto be retained there at by tightening said first friction clamp means,adial test indicator, a substantially vertical second stud fixedlymounting said dial test indicator at the upper end thereof, secondfriction clamp means on said stud below said indicator, the other end ofsaid connecting bar being mounted in said second friction clamp means,said indicator having a dial and indicator finger on its upper end andincluding a feeler rod in operative engagement therewith controlling theposition of said indicator finger, said first friction clamp meanscomprising said first stud at its lower end being formed with a frustoconical enlargement and having its smaller end disposed uppermost, afriction clamp of U-shaped vertical cross section having a hollowcylindrical bore at its central portion mounting said pivot pintherewithin, the lowermost side of said clamp having a frusto conicalbore adapted to receive said enlargement therewithin, the sides of saidclamp having reduced cylindrical bores aligned vertically with saidfrusto conical bore, the uppermost side of said clamp having a frustoconical bore, a split frusto conical friction collar positioned slidablyon said stud above said enlargement, a pin connected to said stud withinthe slit portion of the said collar, the uppermost end of said studbeing externally threaded, a nut screwed onto said externally threadedupper end, a hollow depending sleeve connected to said nut on theundersurface thereof having an open lower end abutting the upper end ofsaid split collar, and a coil spring surrounding said stud within saidsleeve with the lower end thereof bearing on said friction collar andthe upper end on said nut.

3. A dial test indicator according to claim 2, said pivot pin beingprovided at one end with a set screw adapted to abut the end of theclamp, the other end of said pin extending beyond the other side of saidclamp and fixedly mounting thereon said pivot link, said pivot link atthe end thereof remote from said pivot pin being formed with a hollowcylindrical portion receiving said connecting bar therewithin, said linkbeing split longitudinally and communicating with the central bore ofsaid hollow cylindrical portion, and a lock screw screw threaded throughthe link transversely thereof whereby to tighten said hollow cylindricalportion about said connecting bar.

4. A dial test indicator for lathes comprising a base member, means formounting said base member on a tool holder or the like, a first studfixedly mounted at one end of said base member in a substantiallyvertical position, first friction clamp means mounted on said firststud, a pivot pin carried by said friction clamp means and atsubstantially right angles to said stud, a pivot link connected to oneend of said pivot pin, a substantially horizontal connecting bar havingone end thereof connected to said pivot link and adapted to be rotatedagainst said base member parallel thereto upon release of said firstfriction clamp means and to be retained there at by tightening saidfirst friction clamp means, a dial test indicator, a substantiallyvertical second stud fixedly mounting said dial test indicator at theupper end thereof, second friction clamp means on said stud below saidindicator, the other end of said connecting bar being mounted in saidsecond friction clamp means, said indicator having a dial and indicatorfinger on its upper end and including a feeler rod in operativeengagement therewith controlling the position of said indicator finger,including an elongated central wiggler having a conical tip at one endand an enlarged cylindrical portion at the other end, said cylindricalportion having an annular groove, said cylindrical portion at the outerend thereof having a frusto conical bore communicating with the reducedcylindrical bore extending inwardly of said annular groove andterminating in a conical inner end portion,

a ball connected to the end of said feeler rod by a re duced neck, saidball being receiving within said conical inner portion of said bore withthe outer end of said feeler rod being receiving within said frustoconical bore,, said central cylindrical bore defining with said annulargroove a reduced hollow cylindrical sleeve receiving said ball andreduced neck therewithin, said sleeve on opposite sides being cut awayto connect said groove with said bore, and a U-shaped spring positionedwithin said groove with the sides of said spring engaging the neck onopposite sides thereof, the lower end of said spring being bentinwardly.

5. A dial test indicator according to claim 2, said second frictionclamp means comprising said second stud below said indicator having afrusto conical enlargement, the lower end of said second stud beingexternally threaded, said stud intermediate said externally threadedlower end and frusto-conical enlargement having a smooth cylindricalportion, a frusto-conical split friction collar positioned on saidsmooth cylindrical portion, a pin mounted in said smooth cylindricalportion within the split portion of said friction collar, a nut screwedonto the externally threaded lower end of said second stud, said nutfixedly mounting an upwardly extending hollow cylindrical sleeve open atits upper end and sup porting said friction collar, a coil springsleeving said cylindrical portion within said sleeve with the upper endporting said friction collar, a. coil spring sleeving said nut, and afriction clamp of U-shaped cross section having a central portion havinga hollow cylindrical bore receiving the other end of said connecting bartherewithin, the sides of said friction clamp having an upperfrusto-conical bore receiving said frusto conical enlargementtherewithin, a lower frusto-conical bore receiving said friction collartherewithin and reduced cylindrical bores connecting said frusto-conicalbores and receiving said smooth cylindrical portion therewithin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,334,915 Low Mar. 23, 1920 1,411,725 Hill Apr. 4, 1922 2,124,006 ParkerJuly 19, 1938 2,371,451 Larson Mar. 13, 1945 2,528,201 White Oct. 31,1950

